Pluck. A close cousin to grit and mettle but different. Pluck is courage like the other two but unlike grit that sounds exactly like it is—grinding one’s teeth together and just getting on with it, pluck has a sense of joie de vivre while conducting acts of great bravery.
When we were driving through Kansas, we came across a town, Gaylord, that is known for electing an all women city council in 1896. Women didn’t even get the right to vote until 1920. My first thought was: I didn’t expect this in Kansas (sorry I misjudged you so). Second, these ladies had a lot of something. As I read a bit more I realized it was pluck.
Pluck is when you challenge convention and rather than do this with anger, do with charm and wit. Those that normally might condemn actions they see as unconventional instead applaud the rule breakers because they admire their pluck.
So, here’s to the women who had pluck and paved the way for women to stop riding side saddle, wear pants in public, go to work (thank you Mary Tyler Moore), and many other glorious things. There must be a way to use a little more pluck in times like these to make progress by showing immense courage with a side of charm.
Adventures in LuLu 